Celestial Path Chapter 43 (Patreon)

Orochimaru to say the least... Was very much unenthused about my excuse for how Kiyome and Kaori had evolved their Sharingans. And he also very much knew he couldn't press for such details.

As that fell into the territory of clan secrets. Clan secrets which were often backed by cruel, capricious gods even he didn't want to go poking around. Just because he was immortal didn't mean a top-tier god couldn't just chop him into pieces. And then MANUALLY drag said remains to the afterlife and like seal his remains in a giant pot of wine or something.

It was the Shinto Pantheon... I couldn't count all the god's who would love to seal Orochimaru in a giant wine jar to ferment for their own drinking.

"Very well Akari... You may keep your little secrets. The quest for knowledge has its entertainment ufufu." Orochimaru let out a hiss of a laugh that was anything but comforting.

I gave a slight bow in acknowledgement before I said more respectfully. "It's not so easily explained, so I appreciate the patience. And who knows what ears are in the walls." 

Then Orochimaru hummed in agreement before he waved at us and said lazily. "Go ahead and eat your breakfast then. We will be making the last stretch of the journey to Kumo in an hour."

Watching the snake sage prowl away with an all too intrigued smile across their androgynous face. I couldn't help but shudder at the reminder Jiraiya had shared about how back in the 'good old' days Orochimaru had taken up female forms to assassinate demi-gods and nobles for Konoha and the Land of Fire.

'I can't let the throat goat learn that I can give out bloodlines and enhance them by sharing intimacy... Orochimama is not a thing! It's a nightmare!' I mentally told myself with another shudder that drew the attention of the Uchiha girls at my side.

"Akari, let's get some food. Also, did Lord Jiraiya teach you how to identify poison and such?" Kiyome asked with some concern.

My face twitched, and I said blandly as I came back to myself and led us back towards this hotel's ground level.

"Does drinking extremely powerful poison in the form of alcohol count?" Because I still had that large wine jug that belonged to Shuten Douji before they were killed which could turn damn near anything into booze.

Kiyome and Kaori sighed, with Kaori saying helplessly. "Yesss? So long as it helps build up a tolerance. But the goal is to help you identify when and what is poisoning you."

Kaori's big sister energy carried on till we reached the bottom level, and we joined another table filled with our fellow genin.

The pitstop eventually ended with Orochimaru directly taking charge of leading our group as we climbed up the main path leading to Kumogakure's gates. And boy was it fucking scary.

The fifty-meter-wide path was solid stone carved into the sides of the mountains that Kumogakure was built upon. And on the edges of the path were large metal poles clearly made of blessed copper that didn't tarnish and collected the lightning that constantly struck these mountains.

The Land of Fire was called that... Not only because it had several minor volcanic regions which provided the land with extremely fertile soil. But during the summer, it was stupidly hot and humid as well. The land of Wind was called as such despite being a giant desert because of its very common tornadoes.

And here in the Land of Lightning... There was a constant thrum of distant thunder and the crackle of lightning that rang out above us in the clouds. We so were steadily climbing up towards.

The very, VERY first thing we were told as we reached the path leading up towards Kumogakure was that under no circumstances were we to touch anything copper at all. As it was part of Kumo's defense and power system.

After all, why build a bunch of vulnerable power plants when you could just harness the endless lightning surrounding you to form your electrical network? And woe be to anyone who touched anything copper. Because they won't make the same mistake twice.

The three of us kept quiet as we all approached the wall's of Kumogakure, as we could feel the heavy gazes hidden in the crevices of the mountains around us. Greater Youkai, and even the mountains themselves, were alive in a way.

To say nothing of the ACTUAL god's that were already in attendance but were keeping to themselves as they watched us.

Kumogakure's walls themselves were rather similar to Konoha's own walls, besides the fact that they were made out of some kind of obsidian-like reflective stone. And as we reached the stone walls.

A loud crash rang out, followed by the close crackling of lightning and in a moment I backstepped as a form smashed into the ground in front of me that was wreathed in lightning.

"Hey! You got some good senses for a little ninja haha!" A loud roar of laughter rang out as the lightning armor that was so thick that I coudn't see past it faded a bit.

And standing within the still loudly crackling lightning armor was a man. No... That wasn't any mere man. It was a demi-god, or some Greater Youkai half-breed with a human that was over eight feet tall, dark skinned and had large horns atop his head.

I gave the demi-god a dark look before I said flatly. "You are in the way. Get the hell out of my way, or are you going to prevent me from signing in for the Chunin Exams?"

The man just grinned, his teeth showing to be sharpened things clearly meant to tear flesh from bone. So probably youkai-blooded rather than a true demi-god.

"Heh... Akari Sadra, the so-called reborn Hashirama, the student of the Toad Sage Jiraiya and even the new champion of that cowardly bitch Amaterasu. I am going to enjoy eating your fingers and shitting out your toes."

In one hand I still had my golden scepter... My fucking pimp cane actually. And then I reached behind me and I saw the youkai blooded freak in front of me gasp as I pulled out THE Oni divine artifact and took a drink from it.

And having gotten the information I wanted from his reaction, I said in amusement. "I am going to enjoy ripping out your liver and making some more wine with it. Oni liver, if eaten can extend someone's lifespan and make the eater drink themselves right? Sounds like a good time."

Hell, I should just save the oni liver wine for Changli in that case as well. She could use the extra life force as well.

"How... How did you get Shuten's Wine Gourd?" He demanded furiously.

But before I could answer, a heavy blast of chakra rang out with Orochimaru's very unamused voice ringing out. "Get out of the way, brat or I will invoke the gods who are watching us now. You woudn't want to be smitten for preventing us from registering, do you?" 

The Oni's skin darkened even further with crackles of lightning arcing off of him before he snorted loudly, and with another of flicker of lightning, he was gone.

"Well, that was interesting." I noted blandly before shaking my head and stepping forward to register at the village gates. But as I did so...

Just past the village gate and atop one of the shorter buildings that could see past the gate. I could see a girl with bright as fuck pink hair that was staring directly at me. Clearly just waiting for me to walk past the front gate.

'Damn... I am going to be hounded, aren't I?' I thought helplessly.